Tech

Ozobot Is a Smart Robot That Plays Games With You

LAS VEGAS — Ozobot, a game-playing robot, wants you to get physical with digital games — and it could be on to something.

According to a recent study by the Entertainment Software Association, more than half (58%) of all Americans play video games, which may lead some to believe that fewer people are playing physical board games. On the other hand, the same study says 34% of online gamers play puzzles, board games, game shows, trivia and card games, which suggests many still yearn for some old-school gaming.

These findings could help explain the motivation to develop a product like Ozobot. It’s a tiny, one-inch-tall robot designed to work on top of tablet and smartphone screens, as well on as paper. What's more, it will follow both digital and physical lines that players draw on the fly, and can even reportedly tell the difference between a digital and physical surface.

“We set out to breathe new life into game night –- that experience which, as an individual or as a group of friends –- has become a bit tired and repetitive between board and video games,” said Nader Hamda, CEO of Ozobot.

Unveiled at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas, the motorized rolling robot uses light sensors in its base to read digital screens and other surfaces.

The idea is that Ozobot melds the digital world with the physical, playing interactive games with the screen and with other Ozobots. At launch, Ozobot will work with a number of downloadable mobile apps (iOS and Android) that the company developed: OzoLuck, OzoDraw and OzoRace. The last game will include a physical track, on which up to two bots can race around at up to 3-inches per second. Ozobot is also working on a dev kit so third parties can build new games for the robots. Developers may have their work cut out for them since Ozobot can reportedly recognize up to 1,000 instructions.

Each Ozobot will include changeable skins and LED lights, which let players know what the robot is “thinking” or doing. The robots charge via a mini USB port, and each one should run for up to 40 minutes on a charge, according to Ozobot.

Ozobot is still in development, and the company is raising funds on Kickstarter. It hopes to ship Ozobot in time for the 2014 holiday season.

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Robots at CES 2014

Rydis H68 Pro Vac

With its wet-mop and vacuum capabilities in the same box, the H68 aims to take the place of two iRobot devices (the Roomba vacuum and Scooba mopping robots). It has an independent vacuum and mop cleaning modes, as well as a combined automatic mode.

Image: Mashable, Pete Pachal

Ozobot

Ozobot, a game-playing robot, wants you to get physical with digital games -- and it could be on to something. It's a tiny, one-inch-tall robot designed to work on top of tablet and smartphone screens, as well on as paper.

Image: Ozobot

Pleo Robot Dinosaur

Some updates to the Pleo Robot Dinosaur include voice recognition with any language, more touch sensors, the ability to sense temperatures and time-of-day awareness.

Image: Mashable, Nina Frazier-Hansen

Grillbot

Think of the $120 Grillbot as a Roomba for your grill. It’s got three motors, replaceable wire brushes and the wherewithal to change directions as it bumps into the sides of your grill.

Image: Mashable, Nina Frazier-Hansen

PIRO's Windoro Bot

PIRO's Windoro promises to do for windows what the Roomba does for floors, with an autonomous robot roaming across a surface and cleaning it in the process.

Image: Mashable, Nina Frazier-Hansen

Dalek on the Loose

Massive Audio, a car speaker company, built a 6-foot-tall replica of a dalek, the marquee mechanical monster from BBC's Doctor Who. The Dalek is made out of speaker components, including 32 woofers along the bottom, a huge subwoofer inside the head and 5,000 watts of amplifiers in the back. It is powered by a pair of massive batteries.

Image: Mashable, Pete Pachal

Raspberry Pi Robot

The RAPIRO robot comes with RGB LEDs, 12 servos, and an Arduino-compatible servo control board. It will set you back $354.

Image: Mashable, Evan Engel

iRobot Scooba Update

The new iRobot Scooba intelligent mop is slightly heavier and larger than its previous incarnation, the Scooba 390. According to iRobot, it is also three times more effective at clearing dirty floors than the last model; Scooba's internal components, including the motors, brushes and fans, have all been replaced.

Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani

AIMe Camera Rig Robot

AIMe is a small, lightweight camera rig that detects motion up to 150 feet with special sensors. This robot will be available in June of 2014 with a price tag of $299.99.

Image: Mashable, Evan Engel

TOSY Robotics DiscoRobo

With 56 preset dance moves, just turn on your favorite music and these robots will dance. You can also sync it with your smartphone and make its moves mimic your own.

Image: Mashable, Evan Engel

SoloShot 2

This new device provides a platform for athletes, trainers, parents and filmmakers to automatically film themselves or their subjects from up to 2,000 feet away. New features include including vertical tracking, camera control accessories for automatic zooming, a smaller lighter transmitter and compatibility with third-party professional tripods.

Image: Mashable, Nina Frazier-Hansen

WowWee Robotics

MiP is a $99.99 toy-sized robot programmed to act at your command. In its default behavior, MiP responds to a user's claps and other hand gestures

Image: Mashable, Evan Engel

Five Elements Robotics' Budgee

Five Elements Robotics has developed Budgee to help with common everyday tasks. Budgee likes to carry items for you and uses "follow-me" technology to track your actions. It can hold up to 50 pounds and comes equipped with a locking mechanism so your bags and valuables are safe and secure until they're unlocked.

Image: Mashable, Nina Frazier-Hansen

Robot Racers

These two were so busy working on their robots that they didn't bother to look up or decorate their booth.

Image: Mashable, Nina Frazier-Hansen

Sphero 2B robot from Orbotix

The robot is controlled by Bluetooth and iOS or Android smartphone apps and can travel up to 14 feet per second over multiple surfaces. Using infrared technology, users can play multiplayer games by remote control. The robot will be available in the fall of this year for $99.

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